Musical instrument



Nov. 19, 1940. FOMEEN 2,222,223

I MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed June 18; 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet l I IG.Z.

hgI/YENTOR. i /Uh.

ATTORNEY.

Nov. 19, 1940. B. N. FOMEEN MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed June 18, 1938 5. Sheets-Sheet 2 F= IC.3.

ATTORNEY.

Nov. 19, 1940. s. N. FOMEEN 2,222,223

I MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed June 18, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY,

Nov. 19, 194i E. N. FOMEi'N 2,222,223

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed June 18, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 I INVENTOR.

BY i; A44...

ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 19, 1940 UNITED s'rA'rEs PATENT orrics 3 Claims.

The object of the present invention is to provide a musical instrument particularly adapted for orchestral work and which comprises not combination; a piano, an organ, Vibraphone, chimes, and, in addition, a mandolin modified for the piano.

The problems overcome by the present invention are (a) Simplicity of form and association of the elements comprising the combination to enable simultaneous operation of a plurality of the musical units without undue strain on the part of the operator, and enabling rapid change from one to another of the units, in the playing thereof;

(b) To provide a combination of such form and arrangement as to be inexpensive to manufacture, quickly assembled and repaired, and, at the same time, possessing tone quality and the durability required for professional work;

(0) To secure interaction between finger keys and electrical actuators for certain of the musical elements in such manner as to secure instant response and the true effect of manual operation without the usual mechanical tone effect incident in prior devices where such expedients have been employed.

These and other objects of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of an embodiment of the invention? Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Figure 3 is a vertical section of the structure shown in Figure 1 on the line 3-3.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view schematically showing elements of the cymbalom modifier for application to the piano keys.

Figure 4A is a transverse section through the modifier bar showing its outer action relation to a piano string and hammer.

Figure 4B is a view similar to the preceding figure, showing the inaction relation to the modifier bar relatively to a piano string and hammer.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional elevation on the line 5-5, Figure 1.

Figure 6 is an enlarged transverse section through the ibraphone key board.

Figure 7 is a sectional elevation showing in detail the method of actuating the cymbalom modifier device.

Figure 8 is a View similar to Figure 3, showing the organ with one of the keys depressed, the bellows and reservoir being in a position reverse to that shown in Figure 3.

I Figure 9 is an enlarged transverse section through one of the organ keys, showing the connection therebetween and a valve push rod.

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 8 showing a modified form of organ operating means in which a vacuum pump and vacuum reservoir take the place of the pressure pump and pressure reservoir of Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a wiring diagram shown connected to the chime keys and Vibraphone keys.

Figure 12 is a wiring diagram showing connections between the mercury switch, microphones, power amplifier and the sound amplifier or speaker 80.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the primary or main casing generally shaped like that of a piano or organ and occupying generally the same height and length as a small upright piano. Within and rearwardly of the casing I is a rigid back wall 2 upon which rests a top wall 3. To the back wall 2 are mounted the holding and adjusting screws 4 forthe piano strings 5. A longitudinally extending bar 6 provides a fulcrum support for the piano keys I, a keyboard 8 supporting the piano keys toward the front thereof.

In Figure 3 I have shown a conventional hammer action, including one of the felt-faced hammers 9. The specific hammer action forms no part of the present invention and therefore is not described in detail. At ix I have shown one of the black keys which will be connected as usual to a hammer action. Above the hammer action is a fulcrum bar it] for the organ keys H, H00, and at the front of the organ keys is the guiding keyboard l2 having a supporting face plate 13.

In Figure 9 a detailed view of the organ keys and their mounting is shown. Carried by the fulcrum bar It] is a headed pin Hi. In the key toward its front end is formed an upwardly extending guide groove !5 in register with the guide pin l6 carried by the keyboard l2. A further spring member, to wit, a spring strip l1, engages the lower face of the key through its button-like head i'iaz, and through the depression of strip H, the appropriate organ valve is opened.

By reference to Figure 8, it will be seen that the appropriate spring strip I? engages the top of a valve rod 18, each valve rod passing through an aperture at IS in, one of the piano keys I. At the lower end of rod i8 is the valve 20, of any suitable construction, and normally held in closed position by a wire spring 2|. A usual type of reed frame is shown at 22 carried above the upper section R. of a reservoir comprising that section and a bellows-reservoir section R. Communication between the bellows-section R. of the reservoir and section R is effected by one or a plurality of ducts at 23.

The bellows-section comprises a primary longitudinal frame 24 carrying a downwardly inclined web section 24: formed with one or a plurality of apertures at 25 normally closed by a flap valve 26.

Pivoted to frame 24 is a swinging plate 21 connected to the reservoir-bellows 28, the latter at it slower end being fixed to the inclined plate 241:. At the outer end of plate 242: is pivoted force-bellows plate 29 formed with an air duct at 30 normally closed by a flap valve 3|. The force-bellows 32 is secured at its margin to frame 24 and its lower margin to force-plate 29. Plate 29 is connected to organ pedal 33 by a strap or straps 34.

As the pedal 33, or a plurality of such pedals, are operated, the force-bellows will cause the reservoir comprising sections R and R to be filled, and depression of any one of the organ keys will cause its appropriate rod I8 to be moved through the underlying piano key, and the thus selected reed valve will be opened.

Face plate I3 in front of the organ keys is stepped so that at opposite ends thereof there is a raised section. The right-hand raised section is secured to a Vibraphone keyboard 35 on which are mounted the Vibraphone keys 36, 36:0. Each key is mounted upon a rock pin 31 carried by board 35 and each key is formed with a guide groove at 38 near its front end and in register with a guide pin 39.

Depending from each Vibraphone key is a short rod 40 connected to a wire or spring 4| which acts as one of two switch members. The second member is preferably formed as a metal loop 42. When members 4| and 42 are brought into contact a circuit is closed through the wires 43 and an appropriate solenoid 44, Figures 3 and 5. The solenoid core 45 is formed with a hammer head which strikes the Vibraphone plate 46, the latter resting on spaced felt-faced supports 41, 41.1. When the key is released the core will immediately return by gravity or, if desired, a spring (not shown) may be raised to aid such gravitational action.

The resonator tube plate of the Vibraphone is shown at 41, Figures 3 and 5, the plate being apertured to receive a plurality of resonator tubes 48, one for each Vibraphone plate 46.

At the left of the organ keys Hz, is a chime keyboard constructed in the same manner as the Vibraphone keyboard, the chime keys being indicated at 50, 501, each key rocking on a pin 5| carried by a supporting block 52, and each key being grooved to receive a guide pin 53.

Depending from each key is a short rod 54 connected to a spring switch member 55 so that when the key is depressed the switch member closes a circuit through a contact 56, and through an appropriate solenoid 51. In the solenoid is a core 58 having a hammer head and the core is normally retracted by a spring 59 shown in dotted lines, Figure 5.

Carried by top member 3 of the casing I are the spaced riser 60 and standard 5| which support a box-like member or auxiliary casing 62 in which is disposed solenoids 51 and a longitudinally extending bar from which project a plurality of fingers, one being shown in Figure 5. at 63. Hung by each finger is a tubular chi member 64 and the chimes may be wholly or partially enclosed by back casing plate or resonator 65 which is vertically disposed in relation to the rear of the main casing I and auxiliary casing 52.

Extending across, and within the casing plate, is a pivoted shaft 66 carrying a plurality of arms 61, each arm having a mute roller 68 in register with one of the tubular chimes. To shaft 55 is fixed a lever 69 connected by link 10 with a pedaloperated lever 1|, the latter being connected by a link 12 with foot pedals 13. Thus when the foot pedal is depressed the mute rollers will engage the tubular chime members, for muting purposes.

In front of the piano strings 5 is a rock bar 14 which at each end carries a bracket arm 15 which may be of the construction shown in Figure 4. Each bracket arm (only one being shown in the drawings, Figure 4) is pivoted at 16 (Figure 3) to the casing, and is connected by a link rod 11 to a pedal and, for this purpose, the mute pedal 13 is an example of a suitable construction.

Carried by rock bar 14 are a plurality of straps 18 each of which carries a metallic facing 19 at its lower end. When the pedal is operated the rock bar is moved from the position of 4A to the position of 4B and thus the metal facings are carried between the piano hammers and the strings, producing a cymbalom effect. If desired, a mercury switch 8| may be mounted on one of the bracket arms 15, as shown in Figure 7, so that when the cymbalom effect is thrown into action. a circuit may be thrown through a sound amplifier 80, Figure 12.

By means of the invention, I am enabled to superimpose the organ keys relatively to the piano keys and to provide an organ construction including reservoir and force-bellows at a point immediately below the piano keys, the valve operating means comprising rods which pass through apertures formed in the piano keys. I am able to place all of the controls so that they may be reached and operated without strain by the player and, at the same time, the key sections are so clearly separated that there is no confusion. Thus the player may manipulate the piano keys with one hand simultaneously with either organ, Vibraphone or chime effect and may more conveniently manipulate the organ with the selected one or more additional effects.

It will be understood that various modifications of the form and arrangement of the elements in the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The organ forcebellows may be motor-driven, if desired, and the tubular chimes may be shortened or moved downward so as to be fully or more completely concealed. The sound-board of the piano coacts with the chimes to augment resonance, and the rear casing 65 acts as a supplemental resonator.

In the structure of Figure 10, spring 28:): secured to wall 24cc exerts pressure upon hinged bellows-plate 21 tending to maintain the same in upward position and a spring 32:: is secured to wall 24:: and bears upon bellows-pump-plate 29 tending to maintain the same in upward position. Carried by wall 24:: is an underlying flap valve 26:: and carried by the bellows-plate 29 is a similar flap valve bearing the same numeral, to wit, 26x. By this arrangement the reservoir R is a vacuum reservoir and bellows pump operated by pedal 33 is a vacuum pump. Operation of pedal 33 will maintain a vacuum in reservoir R and hence air will be sucked through the organ reed members upon compression of their valves 20.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. In a musical instrument casing containing a piano, organ and a Vibraphone, a resonator secured to the rear of said casing, an auxiliary casing supported above said casing, fingers secured to said auxiliary casing, and chimes suspended from said fingers and depending through said resonator.

2. In a musical instrument cabinet of the class described, a main casing, an auxiliary casing supported above said main casing, a resonator having an opening and being vertically and rearwardly disposed in relation to said auxiliary casing and said main casing, and a plurality of chimes suspended from said auxiliary casing and depending into the opening in said resonator.

3. In a musical instrument of the class described, a main casing; an auxiliary casing; means supporting the auxiliary casing in an elevated position in relation to the main casing; a casing plate in the form of a hollow member,

the forward edges of the lower portion of said casing plate being attached to the main casing; the upper portion of the casing plate being open to the atmosphere and adapted to reflect sound waves from the lower portion of the casing plate and the casing through a passage between the auxiliary casing and the main casing; said casing plate being provided at the upper portion thereof with an opening; a plurality of fingers carried by the auxiliary casing and adapted to support a plurality of fingers at the upper end thereof; chimes supported by said fingers penetrating the opening in the casing plate and having the lower portions thereof positioned between the rear portion of the main casing and the front surface of the casing plate; a plurality of hammers disposed within the auxiliary casing and thereby positioned. adjacent the upper ends of the said chimes; whereby vibration of the chimes initiated in the upper ends thereof by the action of the hammers will cause sound waves to be generated from the lower portion of said chimes between the rear portion of the main casing and the lower portion of the casing plate; said sound waves having access to the atmosphere through the said passage.

BASIL N. FOMEEN. 

